Hi media-savvy folks;
Can someone go over the questions that Doug is going to ask me on
Wednesday and let me know if there are specific talking points you want
me to go over, particularly in the education and bird well being area?
I also need some happy ending stories. :)
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Greetings from Mickaboo;
Date: Sun, 8 May 2011 17:47:35 -0700
From: Doug Carman <ddcarman(a)msn.com>
To: Matt Linton <matt(a)mickaboo.org>
Hi Matt,
Here is the script I wrote for this show. Let me know how you like it.
Thanks.
*Script for Matt LintonMickaboo Companion Bird Rescue*
My intro:
I love to watch the animal segments on late night talk shows.Yet they
always seem so rushed.Just as one animal settles down and gets
comfortable, out he goes and in comes another. On our show we like to
really get to know our special guests.Today we have a volunteer from
Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue.Let’s meet Matt Linton and his friend
Socrates.Welcome.What a beautiful cockatoo.
You have had Socrates for 11 years now.What do you know about his history?
Did he adapt easily to his new home or did he have trouble?
Not only did you adopt a bird, but you also became a volunteer after
seeing how you could fill a need in the operation.What did you do?
Mickaboo is not looking to take in any more birds now.What do they need?
We have a conure so we can relate to the story about the wild parrots of
Telegraph Hill.We didn’t know about Mickaboo’s involvement.Please go
into that for us.
You mentioned to me that when you started as a volunteer Mickaboo took
in about 50 birds and now it is up to around 400.What factors have
caused the big increase?
Which types of birds should people really think twice about before
deciding to adopt?
Mickaboo has a lost and found posted on the website.Are there any
success stories that you can share?
Are there any general warnings about a bird’s wellness and light
conditions that people should know?
Tell us about Mickacoo?
What is your favorite Mickaboo story? (one with a happy ending) have
caused the big increase?
Which types of birds should people really think twice about before
deciding to adopt?
Mickaboo has a lost and found posted on the website.Are there any
success stories that you can share?
Are there any general warnings about a bird’s wellness and light
conditions that people should know?
Tell us about Mickacoo?
What is your favorite Mickaboo story? (one with a happy ending)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 11:07:43 -0700
From: matt(a)mickaboo.org
To: ddcarman(a)msn.com
Subject: Re: Greetings from Mickaboo;
Soc will probably sit on my lap or arm, though I will bring a carrier
for him. He has a leash he can wear.
I'm going to ask our whole team to answer question #2 so I can have the
organizations' perspective on the 5 topics to cover.
On 4/30/11 8:34 PM, Doug Carman wrote:
Hi Matt,
Your ideas are very sound about why bird behavior changes.
Will you bring a perch for Socrates or will he sit on the cage or?
Will there be another volunteer?
What do you think the public should know that may not have been
covered yet in the media? If you could list maybe 5 topics that you
really want to cover in this half hour, that will be helpful. i
want to do a good show for Micaboo and one where people will sit up
and listen. I welcome your ideas. Is there anything you would like
to demonstrate.
One of the things that I found out that I didn't know is
that birdseed was not the best food for my conure. I had to change
to pellets with seeds as a treat.
All the Best,
Darlene
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:55:52 -0700
From: matt(a)mickaboo.org <mailto:matt@mickaboo.org>
To: ddcarman(a)msn.com <mailto:ddcarman@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Greetings from Mickaboo;
Yes, Socrates is a rescue. I got him in early 2001.
It can mean many things when a tame and well loved bird starts
screeching. Squawks are a parrots' natural flock call, so the bird
could be just wanting to make sure everyone is still around. They
could suddenly be scared of their spot in the house (maybe they can
see cats from their windows, etc), or they may be jealous that a new
baby is getting attention and they feel sidelined.
Another common thing is that birds purchased as babies are quieter
and more tame and cuddly when they're babies - but around age 7 or
so they hit bird puberty and get MUCH louder and more rambunctious.
The increase in intake for Mickaboo is probably partly just that
there were always a lot of birds needing to be re-homed and as
Mickaboo's capacity grew, they were able to intake a greater number
of those birds. The other part of this is that in the last 2 years
with the economy tanking, a LOT of families are losing their houses
(rentals and owners) and the new housing they find is bird
incompatible - so they have to give up their pets.
On 4/28/11 1:38 PM, Doug Carman wrote:
Hi Matt,
Is Socrates a rescue bird? You say he changed your world
around. My bird did too. My son and then girlfriend bought the
bird, her dog scared him and he landed up at my house. Then my
son moved out like a week later to be with her and that is how I
got my bird. He has his wings. He loves people, but will
bite. I can't keep babysitters when I travel. He is used to
being out of the cage for a portion of the day. How has your
bird changed your life?
What does it mean when a parrot who was tame and well loved all
of a sudden starts screeching? The wife made her husband give
up his baby. I am sure we both want to inform people about the
responsibilites of having birds or pets like these.
That is interesting that when you started they were doing 50
birds or so and now up to 400. What has caused this big
increase-any ideas?
All the Best,
Darlene
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:41:13 -0700
From: matt(a)mickaboo.org <mailto:matt@mickaboo.org>
To: ddcarman(a)msn.com <mailto:ddcarman@msn.com>
Subject: Re: Greetings from Mickaboo;
My Cockatoo's name is Socrates. I would love a script! :) I do
know a lot of the stories behind Mickaboo, and some of the
birds, as well as general "How we work" type information.
Socrates doesn't do tricks (he thinks he's too dignified) but he
is tame, loves to be outside cages, loves people and can talk a
bit. I don't think the cameras will bother him.
I've always been interested in parrots, since I was a little
kid. I got Socrates with my (then) girlfriend (now wife) about
11 years ago and he really changed my world around! Shortly
thereafter I ended up volunteering for Mickaboo when I realized
that they really needed a techie around. Since they're all
volunteer they rely solely on internet collaboration to get
things done - and back then it was big spreadsheets being
emailed around! I joined up with them to streamline their
operations and build up their technical infrastructure.
I believe when I joined they had capacity to help about 50 birds
per year - up to about 400 now.
On 4/27/11 2:20 PM, Doug Carman wrote:
Hi Matt,
Thank you for writing to me. Now we can plan our
conversation for the show. What is your Cockatoo's name? I
have a conure named Doofus. I actually write a script so
we will know ahead of time what to talk about. This is
where I need your help. Besides the bird rescue, we will
want to expand our conversation. The website will be up
when you talk. I look for conversation outside the website
info. I know you have good bird stories about how the birds
came into the rescue. What other areas do you think people
would be interested in?
Will your cockatoo be outside a cage? Is he used to
cameras? The 3 cameras will be stationary. Does he do tricks?
Can you tell me about your interest and background with birds?
All the Best,
Darlene
> Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:38:14 -0700
> From: matt(a)mickaboo.org <mailto:matt@mickaboo.org>
> To: ddcarman(a)msn.com <mailto:ddcarman@msn.com>
> Subject: Greetings from Mickaboo;
>
>
> Hi Doug or Darlene (your email signature sometimes says
Doug and
> sometimes Darlene).
>
> I'm the volunteer who will be bringing the Cockatoo to
the TV show
> filming. Is there anything I need to know in advance?
Topics I should
> be prepared to talk about, etc?
>
> Thanks very much for giving us this opportunity to do
outreach for our
> bird rescue!
